Strictly Come Dancing

[altariel]

Hurrah for this year's Strictly Come Dancing, in which three sixty-plus year old women are being (at radically varying levels of ability) astounding, bold, brave, and hugely entertaining. It's a delight to watch.

Comments

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Felicity Kendal is amazing - I couldn't do the splits when I was 6, never mind when I wss 65
I was pleased when one of the judges said that Ann Widdecombe's partner's height causes problems for them, because I was thinking that from the beginning.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I've been blown away by Pamela Stephenson too, just puts her soul into the dance. James Jordan is obviously a brilliant teacher. There is too much height difference between AW and Anton, although the partnership was clearly irresistible.

I thought Paul Daniels got unfair comments last night: I thought it was a tender and rather sweet performance.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

And the men! Look at how Peter Shilton has improved in a couple of weeks.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

He was smashing last night! It's a great line-up this year.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I missed that - I got called away halfway through the programme
It's tricky sometimes to be objective. I find him and Pamela Stephenson equally annoying - when, of course, what I should be doing is deciding whether performance has improved.

[kathyh]

I hadn't watched it before Saturday and was blown away by the variety of ages on display. I couldn't believe how supple Felicity Kendal was and Pamela Stephenson was just amazing. Ann Widdecombe may not be the world's best dancer (though she's doing better than I could) but she's got a lot of guts to try at all.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I don't watch "Strictly", but I caught the last few minutes waiting for "Marlin" (my guilty secret, though this week's episode was actually rather good). I saw a little of Pamela Stephenson and was very impressed. And judging by the newspaper pictures I've seen of Felicity Kendall, she still looks amazing. Unexpectedly, Ann Widdecombe seems to have achieved "national treasure" status. :)

[gair.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up! Not enough hot sexuagenarians on the telly, as ever.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Paul has got what he wanted out of it though - he now takes Debbie out onto the dance floor, which he never did before Strictly!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'll draw the line at calling Ann Widdecombe sexy, but both Felicity Kendall and Pamela Stephenson have been stunning. Pamela Stephenson has been top of the judges' vote each week. (Everything should be on YouTube, btw.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Presumably Debbie has got what she wanted too! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Everything appears on YouTube, if you're desperate to catch up. (The BBC don't seem to be putting the dances online like they did last year.) I'm adoring Pamela Stephenson, I think she's incredibly genuine, what you see is what you get.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how Ann Widdecombe has endeared herself to the audience. I think people like how she's completely willing to make an utter fool of herself.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

They're always good at getting a wide variety of ages, but usually the older women go out very quickly. I can't see that happening with Pamela Stephenson this year. And who knows how long Ann Widdecombe will last!

[gair.livejournal.com]

Yayy!

I miss you, btw. Sorry I am so out of touch atm. I am still expecting it to calm down AT ANY MOMENT.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I miss you too! Term is mad here, bound to be MUCH madder for you.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

I have to catch up on YouTube - I drew Kara Tointon in the office sweepstake, and gather she is hotly tipped, but would be so pleased if Pamela Stephenson or Felicity Kendal went all the way! I'm glad FK is still in; I gathered from colleagues that the first week or two her nerves nearly got the better of her...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Kara is excellent, and her partner Artem is an amazing choreographer. The standard is so high this year; impossible to say who'll win. At least four potential winners, Kara amongst them. Good one to get!

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to ask you for names of the candidates and YT availability because I so have to see this. It gives me hope for my own dancing lessons. ;)

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

The colleague who drew Ann Widdecombe was initially very grumpy, on the assumption that she'd be out the next week; but I suspect AW may be this year's John Sergeant...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I read your post about your dancing lessons, it was brilliant!

Pamela Stephenson, dancing with James Jordan, is just amazing. Has thrown herself into the experience whole-heartedly. (Quite literally: she nearly went flying in her salsa but recovered brilliantly - still quite hilarious.)

Felicity Kendall, dancing with Vincent Simone, isn't as good, although Saturday's rumba showed quite remarkable flexibility.

Ann Widdecombe... Well. I'm not sure how much of the cultural context gets across. Ann Widdecombe was a hardline right-wing politician, Catholic and anti-abortion. She retired a couple of years ago, whereupon she dyed her hair blonde and announced her intention to have fun. She is a terrible dancer, incredibly bad - and yet it's very funny and very watchable. Not because she's a figure of fun, but because she's quite frank about being dreadful, but at the same time is working really hard and usually gets the better of the judges in their exchanges.

The BBC website doesn't seem to have as much content as it used to, sadly, so YouTube is definitely your best bet: I think there are people putting stuff online within hours of the programme ending. The Wikipedia entries for each season give more statistics than you can possibly want, but are good for names and seeing what dances they did.

The other woman you might want to look up on YouTube is Cherie Lunghi, who danced last year with James Jordan, and was gorgeous. Don't miss Chris Hollins' Charleston (and Ali Bastian's Charleston, for that matter). It's Charlestons and Tangos this coming Saturday, my two favourite dances, can't wait!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I kind of love this show, if that wasn't clear from that last comment! ;-)

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

Heh. Thanks for all the input! I'm gonna go on a YT hunt to gather some awesome material for bed-time watching.

(I'm also appalled at how likeable that Widdercombe woman sounds. I am biased against right-wing Catholic politicians, but all in favour of self-deprecating, wonderfully bad dancers with a sense of humour. I think I'm going to be confuuuuused.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Enjoy!

I think the thing with Widdecombe is that she's not a hypocrite. Her views are inflexible and not often charitable, but she's honest, and she's lived her own life according to her beliefs. She's also demonstrated a willingness to laugh at herself, and that's a likeable trait.